KASA-TV

KASA-TV is a television station licensed to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and serving the larger Albuquerque television market and broad areas of New Mexico. It operates as an owned-and-operated station of Telemundo, the Spanish-language television network owned by NBCUniversal. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 2, with its primary transmitter located on Sandia Crest near Albuquerque. Its coverage is expanded through satellite stations, low-power translators, and related digital transmission facilities reaching parts of southeastern New Mexico and southwestern Colorado. The station began broadcasting in 1983 as KSAF-TV, an independent outlet established after a lengthy application and licensing process. Its original owners were Santa Fe business interests backed by California industrialist John J. Pollon. The station initially attempted to provide locally oriented programming, including a newscast intended to serve New Mexico's capital, but it struggled financially and competitively during its first decade. Its call sign changed to KNMZ-TV in 1985, and the station later filed for bankruptcy while carrying substantial liabilities. In 1988, Coronado Communications, a subsidiary of Sunbelt Communications Company, acquired the operation and reduced staffing and facilities as part of a cost-cutting effort. The call sign changed again to KKTO-TV in 1989. A major turning point came in 1992, when the Providence Journal Company, owner of Fox affiliate KGSW-TV, arranged to acquire KKTO. The transaction was intended to move Fox programming from channel 14 to the stronger VHF channel 2 facility. KKTO temporarily went silent during the transition, and the Federal Communications Commission approved the acquisition and adoption of the KASA-TV call letters in January 1993. KASA launched as the Albuquerque market's Fox affiliate on April 5, 1993. For more than a decade, its identity was closely associated with Fox programming, while local news was produced at different times by partner stations KOB-TV and KRQE. Ownership changed several times during the Fox period. Belo acquired the Providence Journal Company in 1997 but later placed KASA on the market. Raycom Media purchased KASA in 1999, and KOB began producing a local 9 p.m. newscast for the station in 2000. Raycom subsequently sold KASA to LIN TV in 2006 for $55 million. LIN already owned CBS affiliate KRQE, creating a permitted duopoly because KASA was not among the market's four highest-rated stations at the time. KASA moved its operations to KRQE's Albuquerque facility and its late local newscast became a KRQE production. The station's programming identity changed in 2017. After Media General merged with LIN and Nexstar Broadcasting Group agreed to acquire Media General, regulatory ownership limits required the divestiture of either KASA or KRQE. Ramar Communications acquired KASA and its translators for $2.5 million. Fox programming moved to a KRQE digital subchannel, while KASA became a Telemundo affiliate on January 18, 2017. Several Ramar-owned New Mexico stations were converted into satellites of KASA, strengthening the station's Spanish-language coverage across the state. NBCUniversal purchased Ramar's New Mexico television properties in 2021, including KASA-TV and its associated full-power stations and translators. The acquisition made KASA a Telemundo owned-and-operated station. During the transition, local news production continued under an arrangement involving Gray Television and the former Ramar operation in Lubbock, Texas. On October 18, 2021, Albuquerque NBC affiliate KOB assumed production of KASA's local newscasts. KASA currently combines Telemundo network programming, Spanish-language local news, and regional broadcast distribution under NBCUniversal ownership.

KASA-TV traces its origins to an application filed in 1977 by the New Mexico Media Co., a group of Santa Fe businessmen supported by industrialist John J. Pollon. The applicants first sought VHF channel 11 and later amended the proposal to channel 2. The FCC approved the application in 1982 after objections from Albuquerque broadcasters concerning the proposed transmitter location. The station eventually used a site in the Jemez Mountains and began broadcasting on October 31, 1983, as independent KSAF-TV. The early operation struggled to establish a sustainable business. Its planned local news service was reduced soon after launch, and ownership changes brought new programming and repeated call-sign changes. An investor group acquired an interest in 1984, after which the station obtained a large film library from financially troubled KNAT-TV. To avoid confusion with other local call signs, it became KNMZ-TV in 1985. The station entered bankruptcy proceedings in 1987, reporting liabilities greater than its assets. Coronado Communications purchased it in early 1988, reduced staffing, moved much of the operation toward Albuquerque, and renamed it KKTO-TV in 1989. In 1992, the Providence Journal Company agreed to purchase KKTO from Coronado. The buyer owned KGSW-TV, the market's Fox affiliate, and planned to shift Fox programming to channel 2 while improving the channel 2 transmission facility. KKTO ceased programming in September 1992 during the transition. Following FCC approval, the station adopted the KASA-TV call sign and relaunched on April 5, 1993, as the Albuquerque area's Fox affiliate. KASA changed corporate owners several times during the next two decades. Belo acquired the Providence Journal Company in 1997, then sold KASA and KHNL to Raycom Media in 1999. KOB produced a 9 p.m. newscast for KASA beginning in 2000. Raycom sold the station to LIN TV in 2006, and KASA moved its operations to the KRQE facility. When LIN later became part of Media General, KASA remained paired with KRQE, but Nexstar's proposed 2016 acquisition of Media General created an ownership conflict because both stations ranked among the market's leading outlets. KASA and its translators were therefore sold to Ramar Communications for $2.5 million. Ramar did not acquire Fox's affiliation. On January 18, 2017, Fox moved to a KRQE digital subchannel and KASA became a Telemundo affiliate. Ramar also used KASA as the hub for several full-power stations and translators in New Mexico and southwestern Colorado. This arrangement expanded the station's Spanish-language footprint beyond its original Santa Fe and Albuquerque focus. NBCUniversal agreed in 2021 to buy Ramar's New Mexico television assets, including KASA-TV and its associated facilities, for $12.5 million. The transaction closed on October 5 and made KASA a Telemundo owned-and-operated station. Local news production initially continued through transitional arrangements involving Gray Television and the former Ramar operation in Lubbock. On October 18, 2021, KOB assumed production of KASA's local newscasts. KASA now functions as Telemundo's New Mexico service, delivering Spanish-language network programming and local news through its main signal, satellite stations, and translators.

1. 2021NBCUniversal acquisition closes

   NBCUniversal completed its purchase of KASA-TV and related Ramar New Mexico television assets on October 5.

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2. 2021KOB takes over local-news production

   KOB began producing KASA's local newscasts on October 18.

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3. 2017KASA becomes a Telemundo station

   Ramar completed the transition from Fox to Telemundo on January 18, with Fox moving to a KRQE subchannel.

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4. 2006LIN TV ownership begins

   LIN TV acquired KASA and paired it with KRQE in an Albuquerque duopoly.

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5. 1999Raycom Media ownership begins

   Raycom acquired KASA from Belo as part of a transaction involving KASA and KHNL.

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6. 1993KASA-TV launches as a Fox affiliate

   The station relaunched on channel 2 on April 5 after the Fox affiliation moved from KGSW-TV.

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7. 1989Call sign changes to KKTO-TV

   Coronado renamed the station KKTO-TV as part of its repositioning.

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8. 1988Coronado Communications acquires the station

   Coronado purchased channel 2 for $3 million and consolidated much of its operation in Albuquerque.

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9. 1987Bankruptcy filing

   The station filed for bankruptcy while reporting $11 million in assets and $15 million in liabilities.

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10. 1985Call sign changes to KNMZ-TV

    The station changed its call letters and used the on-air identity KNM2.

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11. 1983KSAF-TV begins broadcasting

    The station signed on from Santa Fe as an independent outlet on October 31.

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12. 1982FCC approves the channel 2 application

    The Federal Communications Commission approved the application after the proposed transmitter location was changed to No Name Peak in the Jemez Mountains.

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13. 1977Initial application for a Santa Fe television station

    New Mexico Media Co. applied for a new television station, initially proposing VHF channel 11 before amending the application to channel 2.

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A statewide Spanish-language television service combining Telemundo network programming with local news and over-the-air coverage centered on Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

• Telemundo network programmingSpanish-language television network programming2017

  KASA carries Telemundo's Spanish-language schedule, including entertainment, news, sports, scripted programming, and telenovela-oriented content. The affiliation became the station's defining programming identity in January 2017 after Fox programming moved to a KRQE digital subchannel.

• Telemundo Nuevo México local newsLocal television news2017

  KASA's local Spanish-language news service provides reporting for Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and surrounding New Mexico communities. The newscasts were initially produced through transitional arrangements involving Ramar-related facilities and were subsequently produced by KOB beginning October 18, 2021.

• KASA-TV broadcast networkOver-the-air television distribution2009

  The station's primary digital signal broadcasts on virtual channel 2 from Sandia Crest. Satellite stations and numerous low-power translators extend the KASA service across New Mexico and into southwestern Colorado, while digital multiplexing supports additional services associated with the station's regional operation.

• 2021NBCUniversal acquires KASA-TV and related stationsM&A

  Ramar announced the sale of its New Mexico television operation, including KASA-TV, satellite stations, and translators, to NBCUniversal.

  What changed. NBCUniversal purchased the assets in a transaction valued at $12.5 million, completed on October 5, 2021.

  Aftermath. KASA became a Telemundo owned-and-operated station. NBCUniversal also planned a dedicated local-news service, with KOB ultimately assuming newscast production.

  Transaction value. $12.5 million (Announced July 30, 2021; completed October 5, 2021)

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• 2021Transfer of local-news production to KOBStrategy

  Following NBCUniversal's acquisition, local news was temporarily supported through a transitional services arrangement involving Gray Television and the former Ramar operation in Lubbock.

  What changed. KOB assumed production of KASA's local newscasts on October 18, 2021.

  Aftermath. KASA's Spanish-language local news became operationally linked to Albuquerque's NBC affiliate while remaining branded for the Telemundo audience.

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• 2017Switch from Fox to TelemundoStrategy

  Ramar Communications acquired KASA while Fox programming remained associated with the KRQE operation. KASA therefore needed a new network affiliation after the transaction.

  What changed. On January 18, 2017, KASA adopted Telemundo programming, while Fox moved to a digital subchannel of KRQE. Ramar also made several New Mexico stations satellites of KASA.

  Aftermath. The station shifted from an English-language Fox identity to a Spanish-language Telemundo service with a broader regional distribution footprint.

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• 2021NBCUniversal agrees to acquire Ramar's New Mexico television stations

  NBCUniversal announced a purchase of KASA-TV, its satellites, and associated translators for $12.5 million. The deal closed on October 5, 2021.

  M&A
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• 2021KOB assumes production of KASA local newscasts

  On October 18, KOB, Albuquerque's NBC affiliate, took over production of KASA's local Spanish-language newscasts.

  Leadership change
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• 2017KASA-TV completes transition from Fox to Telemundo

  Ramar Communications acquired KASA and its translators, moved Fox programming to a KRQE subchannel, and converted KASA to a Telemundo station on January 18.

  M&AProduct generation
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• 2006LIN TV acquires KASA-TV

  LIN TV agreed to purchase KASA from Raycom Media for $55 million, creating a permitted Albuquerque television duopoly with KRQE.

  M&A
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• 2000KOB begins producing KASA's late local newscast

  KOB-TV began producing a 9 p.m. local newscast for KASA during the station's Fox era.

  Product launch
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• 1999Raycom Media purchases KASA-TV

  Raycom Media acquired KASA-TV and KHNL in Honolulu from Belo in a transaction reported at $88 million for both stations.

  M&A
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• 1993KASA-TV becomes Albuquerque's Fox affiliate

  After the KGSW-TV transition, KASA-TV began carrying Fox programming on channel 2 on April 5, 1993.

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• 1992Providence Journal Company acquires channel 2 for Fox transition

  The owner of KGSW-TV arranged to acquire the financially troubled channel 2 operation to move Fox programming to the VHF facility.

  M&A
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• 1987Station files for bankruptcy amid financial difficulties

  The station reported approximately $11 million in assets and $15 million in liabilities when it sought bankruptcy protection.

  Bankruptcy
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• 1983KASA-TV launches as an independent station under the KSAF-TV call sign

  The channel began broadcasting from Santa Fe on October 31, 1983, initially operating as an independent station.

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1. KASA-TV